Man charged with telephoning death threat to Protestant leader of Northern Ireland government

BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Police say a 34-year-old man has been charged with threatening to kill the British Protestant leader of Northern Ireland's unity government, First Minister Peter Robinson.

The police statement says the man, who was not named, is to be arraigned Thursday in the Protestant town of Newtownards. He allegedly made the threat in a telephone call Wednesday.

Several politicians have received death threats from Protestant extremists since Dec. 3, when the Belfast City Council voted to stop flying the British flag year-round and instead fly it just 18 days a year.

Most threats have targeted Alliance, a small cross-community party that cast the deciding votes to reduce displays of British flags atop city hall.

Politicians from Northern Ireland's Irish Catholic minority wanted the flag taken down permanently.